KUALA LUMPUR, 20 February 2005 — Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee is on target to retain his Malaysian Open title after opening up a six-stroke lead yesterday. The 34-year-old shot seven birdies and two bogeys for a third round score of five-under-par-67 to finish on 19 under.
India’s Joyti Randhawa recorded two eagles in a score of 65 in stifling conditions on the Saujana course for second on 13 under. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Swede Henrik Stenson, Prom Meesawat of Thailand are all a shot further behind. Harrington, contesting his first event of the year, chipped to three feet at the last for birdie in a score of 67 while Stenson and Prom signed off for 71s.
Dane Thomas Bjorn dropped back to sixth on 11 under, having started the day two shots behind Thongchai, after bogeying four holes.
Thongchai, who has led the tournament from the first round, started with a birdie. He proceeded to birdie his third and 10th holes and also managed four more over his inward nine.
World No. 8 Harrington birdied three of his opening five holes but let slip the chance to finish closer to Thongchai by only managing to birdie two of the four par-fives.
